A Labrador pup with special needs desperately wants a home after being saved from torture in China in a dramatic tale of pet rescue.

Little Ludi was destined for slaughter when he was discovered abandoned and seriously injured in a box on a Chinese street earlier this year.

The eight-week old black pup’s charity rescuers said he would have been poisoned, tortured or eaten if he had not been saved by volunteers determined to stamp out the Chinese dog meat industry.

Among those volunteers is accident and emergency nurse Gabby Gardiner, from South Belfast , who travelled to China this summer to witness the “horrendous” fate that awaits thousands of dogs destined for the meat trade.

Gabby, who volunteers for the rescue group Doggie 911 , said the trip was “absolutely heart-breaking” and she returned home with dozens of dogs who have since been adopted.

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But she said Ludi was the last one looking for his “forever home” due to serious injuries that meant one of his hind legs had to be amputated three weeks ago.

She explained: “We realised that he was not using his back legs at all and seemed to have suffered a spinal trauma but he has got through the surgery and is now being rehabilitated onto three legs.

“We are now looking for a foster family who will adopt him once his rehabilitation is complete.”

Because of his circumstances, Gabby said Ludi’s “forever home” would preferably be adult-only and with him as the only dog.

Ludi

She said: “Ludi is a wee bit special. He will bring so much love and joy to his human owners. He loves one-to-one attention and was maybe a little spoilt as a small pup because of the trauma he suffered.

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“He can be a little bit reactive to other dogs and doesn’t like to share his toys because of what he has been through although we have no idea what happened to him.”

Gabby explained she first became involved in Doggie 911 afer seeing a Facebook post last year seeking a home for Ollie, a little poodle who was also destined for the meat trade after being cast aside when he was no longer useful for animal testing.

She immediately fell in love with Ollie, who is also severely disabled, and helped arrange for him to be flown from Bejing to Paris where she collected him for home.

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This was when she learned Ollie had been dramatically rescued with 1200 other dogs discovered crammed into a lorry en-route to the infamous Yulin food festival where 10,000 dogs are slaughtered every year.

A compound with rescued dogs (Image: Alex Dubber)

Gabby, who works in partnership with other rescue organisations, including Harbin SHS Rescue , said they were awaiting the arrival of more rescue dogs in two weeks time.

She said she felt compelled to continue her work: “I didn't realise the scale of the problem until I went there. Injured dogs like Ludi would be poisoned, badly beaten or sent for slaughter.

“It has given me the extra push to keep going and doing whatever I can.

“I was so inspired by local people who are doing what they can to help and met one wealthy lady who had 2,000 dogs in her care with limited resources.

“Things are starting to change and there is a growing awareness about the cruelty of the dog meat industry and education in schools but more needs to be done."

To raise money for future rescues, Doggie 911 will host a Pups in the Pub fundraiser on Sunday, October 28, from 1pm-5pm at the Sunflower Bar and Public House in Belfast.

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There will be a doggy market in the beer garden, a doggy photographer and a pizza and beer deal for £10 as well as a fancy dress competition for dogs and children.

Meanwhile, Lampost Coffee on the Upper Newtownards Road will host a fundraiser on Sunday, December 3, from 3pm-6pm.

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